Letishia Silva

Letishia Silva: Idaho Democratic Candidate for Senate District 13

Letishia Silva is a Democratic candidate for Idaho State Senate District 13, which covers portions of Canyon County in the Nampa area. Silva lives in Nampa and is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary, per the Nampa Chamber of Commerce voter guide. She will face the winner of the Republican primary between incumbent Brian Lenney and challenger Colton Bennett in the November 3, 2026, general election. This is her second consecutive run for a Canyon County state Senate seat.

Background

Silva was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and graduated from Cascade Junior/Senior High School, per her Ballotpedia profile. Her career experience includes work as a homemaker and as an executive office administrator. She lives in the Nampa area and has been active in Democratic Party organizing in Canyon County. In her 2024 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, Silva described her motivations for running in terms of community accountability, stating she has little faith in current state governance and wants to bring integrity and compassion to Idaho's policy debates.

Political Career

Silva has not previously held elected office. She ran for Idaho State Senate District 10 in 2024, winning the Democratic primary unopposed with 666 votes before losing the general election to Republican Tammy Nichols, 26,436 to 6,342, per the IVG candidate profile. She was the first to file for legislative office during the 2026 filing period, submitting her paperwork at 8:02 a.m. on the first day, as reported by Idaho Education News. Her 2026 Senate District 13 candidacy is her second consecutive run for a Canyon County Senate seat.

Policy Positions

Silva's documented positions draw from her 2024 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey and her campaign website. On healthcare, Silva has called for improved infrastructure, telehealth services, and expanded healthcare facilities to address dwindling access, particularly in rural areas. She frames healthcare access as essential to individual freedom and supports ensuring that every Idahoan can make informed healthcare decisions. On wages, Silva has argued that fair wages should meet a national standard, criticizing what she describes as "hostage pay" in which overtime has shifted from an incentive to a necessity. She has expressed support for higher wages for union members, educators, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals. On governance and ethics, Silva has stated that she believes judgment in Idaho's current political class is obscured by greed, ego, and pride. Her campaign is organized around integrity, compassion, and bridging community divides across political lines. Her campaign website frames her candidacy around moving Idaho forward "regardless of political affiliation."

Political Alignment

Silva is a Mainstream Democrat. Her priorities of healthcare access, fair wages, and ethical governance reflect standard Democratic positioning in Canyon County. Her self-described cross-partisan framing and her emphasis on pragmatic community problem-solving over ideology reflect a centrist approach. No organizational endorsements or progressive activist affiliations have been documented.

Campaign and Endorsements

Silva's campaign website is letishiasilvaofidaho.com. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for her 2024 campaign. No endorsements for her 2026 Senate District 13 race have been publicly reported as of April 2026. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine database.